Specific meaning

What does “specific” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“specific” is a noun and adjective with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a fact about some part (as opposed to general).

specific

noun

  1. a fact about some part (as opposed to general)

    “he always reasons from the particular to the general”

    Synonymsparticular
    Oppositesgeneral
  2. a medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease

    “quinine is a specific for malaria”

adjective

  1. (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique

    “rules with specific application”

    “demands specific to the job”

  2. stated explicitly or in detail

    “needed a specific amount”

  3. relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species

    “specific characters”

  4. being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides

    “quinine is highly specific for malaria”

    “a specific remedy”

    Oppositesnonspecific

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University